LAD/Blog #23: McKinley's War Message

After the USS Maine explodes, the U.S. public became extremely anti-Spanish. McKinley was not a fan of war  but the press kept feeding the public's anti-Spanish ideals. The public pressure and pressure from Congress influenced McKinley. Eventually McKinley gave in to Congress's wishes to go to war and the public pressure as a result of the press. He gave his war message on April 11, 1898. McKinley viewed Cuba as a lost cause and that it should be ignored. Following Grant's lead, McKinley did not want to go down a path with Cuba. Although, circumstances have changed and McKinley offer his approval for a military intervention, simply and with four main reasons. First was to end the war in Cuba for humanitarian reasons, because they are so close to the U.S. Second, because Cuba has no government capable of protecting itself, the U.S. is obligated to do so. Third, commerce was injured and property damaged. Finally, it threatened American peace and was expensive. The Spanish-American War would end up being relatively quick and painless. It probably ended up being the better of the two options rather than ignoring it and allowing it to fester.

Lincoln declared war in order to preserve the Union after many attempts had failed, which in comparison to McKinley declaring war as the more aggressive option was less justified.

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